Four feared dead as traders clash with security agents in Lagos

At least four people were feared dead on Monday following a clash
between scrap dealers and security men guarding oil pipelines in Isheri
Osun/ Ijegun area of Lagos.Residents of the area said that the
armed security agents raided the scrap dealers for engaging in allegedly
“ nefarious activities’’.In the free-for-all fight, four persons were shot dead while several others sustained serious injuries.“They
came and started shooting, killing four of our men. I am just coming
from Isolo mortuary where I deposited the corpse of my brother and some
other bodies.“About 17 people are lying critically wounded in two
hospitals in the area, while others are in the police custody,” a
victim, who identified himself as Sanni, said.The angry mob also set ablaze two Hilux patrol vans at the scene.The injured were taken to Eniola Hospital, Isheri-Oshun while the
dead bodies were deposited at Mainland General Hospital, Yaba morgue.The
traditional ruler of Ijegun, Oba Nureni Akinremi, said that policemen
from Area ‘M’ Command were invited to quell the clash which disrupted
commercial activities in the area for several hours.“I did not
allow the clash to escalate so I called a combined police team from
Isheri Osun, Ikotun and Area `M’, Idimu to restore normalcy,” he said.The
Police Public Relations Officer, Olarinde Famous-Cole, said that the
police were only invited to the scene to maintain law and order.About
five police patrol vans with armed personnel were moving around the
area while those arrested were detained at Isheri Police Station.